Discussion specifically about the Overland Track should be posted in this subforum, including side trips and the Cradle Mountain day walk area. Alternative access routes and connecting routes belong in the parent forum.

“I’m thrilled that we’re able to provide $30 million to support the construction of the cableway, which... is going to transform the tourism infrastructure here at this iconic location,” Mr Turnbull said.

The cableway will transport visitors from a new visitors centre to Dove Lake.

Aardvark wrote:Visual pollution isn't the only thing to be concerned about? There would be positives and negatives aplenty for each side of the debate. Maybe we cull the population instead.

It isn't the local population that is the problem - it's the number of visitors. Cradle is promoted so heavily, everyone wants to see it. If the island is going to promote it and benefit from the tourism, there needs to be suitable infrastructure to minimise the impact of that visitation.it's a tricky balancing act.

Aardvark wrote:Visual pollution isn't the only thing to be concerned about? There would be positives and negatives aplenty for each side of the debate. Maybe we cull the population instead.

It isn't the local population that is the problem - it's the number of visitors. Cradle is promoted so heavily, everyone wants to see it. If the island is going to promote it and benefit from the tourism, there needs to be suitable infrastructure to minimise the impact of that visitation.it's a tricky balancing act.

Agreed.

Seem Nick is saying sensible things about it:

Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim said the cableway would privatise access to the area.

“Infrastructure inside Tasmania’s reserves should be publicly owned and funded, and in the public interest. The cableway meets neither of those tests,” Senator McKim said.

“This is $30 million to prop up a corporate business model, and turn wilderness areas into theme parks.”

There's as much potential for any private solution to fleece the park service and the public... as could be the case with the existing shuttle operator.The Greens are right to question everything, oppose any ingress. What else would we expect?

I'd add the term 'necessary' to their test. And include all new walking tracks (the real 'pointy end').

Aardvark wrote:I was referring to the world population. It is one place i fear i will never visit. The sheer weight of numbers is unappealing. The types it attracts are unappealing.

If you can put up with the masses briefly, it's great once you get away from Dove. Crater Peak and the Horse Track, Lake Rodway and Scott Kilvert; plenty of options that get you away from the bogans. Even at Pencil Pine there's the Dove Canyon circuit and the timber track to Ronny Creek. Relatively few people on those.

The worry is that it will be the thin edge of the wedge. "We'll there making good money, so lets stick in another cable car here and we can make some money as well"One off, it's a good idea to centralise a lot of tourist activity in one area but I think a lot people fear that longer term, wont be the case.

I'm not sure who's set to profit from the Currant proposal, but Simon says it's the same old boys club, not the state. Bushwalkers have no Currantcy in this proposal whatsoever. There was a plan that the best viewing area in the visitor centre was to be for the public, but that plan has Currantly changed to benefit one private operator. What a Cur!

Sorry if I'm acting like so much dried fruit, I'm sure the cable car will be lovely.

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The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders ~ Edward Abbey